July 16, 2011 (La Calunnia È Un Venticello - Il Barbiere Di Seviglia)

Aria: La Calunnia È Un Venticello

Language: Italian

Performer: Robert Lloyd

Opera: Il Barbiere Di Seviglia

Composer: Gioachino Rossini

Libretto: Cesare Sterbini

First Performed: 1816

Translation of the text:

July 15, 2011 (Onegin's Aria - Eugene Onegin)

Aria: Onegin's Aria
Language: Russian
Performer: Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Opera: Eugene Onegin
Composer: Pytor Tchaikovsky
First Performed: 1879


Translation of the text:

You wrote to me
Do not deny it, I have read
The confession of an honest soul,
The claim of an innocent love
Your sincerity is dear to me
For it, I shall repay you
By also telling the truth
Straight as it is
So accept this confession
I submit myself to your judgement.

Had I wished to limit my life with a burden of family,
Had I been granted a good fortune to be a father or a husband,
Then, having met you, I would look no further
But I was not created for such indulgences
My soul is not open to them,
Your great qualities are wasted on me
For I am not worthy of them,
Believe me, in all honesty
The marital life would be a torture for you,
No matter how much love I had for you,
The moment it becomes a habit, I would love you no more
Then judge for yourself, then, what kind of roses 
Would Hymen have in store for us,
And for how many long days

The dreams and years have fled away, and shall not return,
I love you like a brother, yes a brother,
And, perhaps, somewhat more tenderly than a brother would

So listen to me and have no angst
Many times would a young maiden trade one passing dream 
For another one.

July 14, 2011 (Jak Možná Věřit - Prodaná Nevěsta)

Aria: Jak Možná Věřit
Language: Czech
Performer: Peter Dvorský
Opera: Prodaná Nevěsta [English: The Bartered Bride]
Composer: Bedrich Smetana
Libretto: Karel Sabina
First Performed: 1866


Translation of the text:


Very difficult to find a translation.

July 13, 2011 (Szumia Jodly - Halka)

Aria Szumia Jodly
Language: Polish
Performer:
Opera: Halka
Composer: Stanisław Moniuszko
Libretto: Włodzimierz Wolski
First Performed: 1848


Translation of the text:

July 12, 2011 (Hazám, Hazám - Bánk Bán)

Aria: Hazám, Hazám
Language: Hungarian
Performer: András Molnár
Opera: Bánk Bán
Composer: Ferenc Erkel
Libretto: Banjámin Galambos
First Performed: 1861


Translation of the text:


I started my house beautiful
Famous little Hungary
I looked back at better days
My eyes overflowing with tears

I started my house beautiful
Sweet Hungary
I looked back at better days
My God, to order hotels
Because of tired of hiding
The pacing, a lot of

July 11, 2011 (Měsíčku Na Nebi Hlubokém - Rusalka)

Aria: Měsíčku Na Nebi Hlubokém
Language: Czech
Proformer: Lucia Popp
Opera: Rusalka
Composer: Antonín Dvořák
Libretto: Jaroslav Kvapil
First Performed: 1901


Translation of the text:

Oh Moon on the deep deep sky
Your light can see far
You roam all the vast world
Looking in the homes of people
Oh Moon, stay for a while
Tell me, tell me where my loved is
Tell him, oh silver Moon
That my arm embraces him
So he at least for a little while
Remembers me in his dreams
Give him light on his way
Tell him, oh tell him who is waiting for him here!
Is the human soul dreaming of me...

Let him awake by the memory!
Oh Moon, keep shining, keep shining!

July 10, 2011 (Akh! Istomilas Ya Goryem - Pique Dame)

Aria: Akh! Istomilas Ya Goryem
Language: Russian
Performer: Galina Gorchakova
Opera: Pique Dame [English: The Queen Of Spades]
Composer: Pytor Tchaikovsky
Libretto: Modest Tchaikovsky
First Performed: 1890


Translation of text: 


Translation not needed. Subtitled in English.

July 9, 2011 (Un Bel Dì Vedremo - Madama Butterfly)

Aria: Un Bel Dì Vedremo
Language: Italian
Performer: Hiromi Omura
Opera: Madama Butterfly
Composer Giacomo Puccini
Libretto: Luigi Illica & Guiseppe Giacosa
First Performed: 1904


Translation of the text:



One good day, we will see
Arising a strand of smoke
Over the far horizon on the sea
And then the ship appears
And then the ship is white
It enters into the port, it rumbles its salute.
Do you see it? He is coming!
I don't go down to meet him, not I.
I stay upon the edge of the hill
And I wait a long time
but I do not grow weary of the long wait.
And leaving from the crowded city,
A man, a little speck
Climbing the hill.
Who is it? Who is it?
And as he arrives
What will he say? What will he say?
He will call Butterfly from the distance
I without answering
Stay hidden
A little to tease him,
A little as to not die.
At the first meeting,
And then a little troubled
He will call, he will call
"Little one, dear wife
Blossom of orange"
The names he called me at his last coming.
All this will happen,
I promise you this
Hold back your fears -
I with secure faith wait for him.

July 8, 2011 (Il Dolce Suono - Lucia Di Lammermoor)

Aria: Il Dolce Suono
Language: Italian
Performer: Natalie Dessay
Opera: Lucia Di Lammermoor [English: Lucia Of The Moor]
Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto: Salvadore Cammarano
First Performed: 1835


Translation of the text:

The sweet sound of his voice struck me!
Ah, that voice has entered my heart!
Edgardo! I surrender to you, oh my Edgardo!
I have escaped from your enemies.
A chill creeps into my breast!
Every fibre trembles!
My foot falters!
Sit down by the fountain with me a while!
Alas, the tremendous phantom arises and separates us!
Let us take refuge here, Edgardo, at the foot of the altar.
It is scattered with roses!

A heavenly harmony, tell me, do you not hear it?
Ah, the marriage hymn is playing!
They are preparing the rite for us! Oh, how happy I am!
Oh joy that is felt but not said!
The incense is burning!
The holy torches are shining, shining around!
Here is the minister!
Give me your right hand!
Oh joyful day!
At last I am yours, at last you are mine,
A god gives you to me.
Let me share
The greatest pleasures with you,
A smile from merciful heaven,
Life will be ours.

July 7, 2011 (Te Deum - Tosca)

Aria: Te Deum
Language: Italian
Performer: George Gagnidze
Opera: Tosca
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Libretto: Luigi Illica & Guiseppe Giacosa
First Performed: 1900


Translation of the text:


Noet needed. Subtitles in English

July 6, 2011 (Madamina, Il Catalogo È Questo - Don Giovanni)

Aria: Madamina, Il Catalogo È Questo
Language: Italian
Performer: Stafford Dean
Opera: Don Giovanni
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto: Lorenzo De Pointe
First Performed: 1787


Translation of the text:


Not needed. Subtitles are in English.

July 5, 2011 (Tranzlied - Die Tote Stadt)

Aria: Tranzlied
Language: German
Performer: Thomas Hampson
Opera: Die Tote Stadt [English: The Dead City]
Composer: Erich Korngold
Libretto: Julius Korngold
First Performed: 1920


Translation of the text:


Not needed. Video subtitled in English.

July 4, 2011 (La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetée - Carmen)

Aria: La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetée
Language: French
Performer: Roberto Alagna
Opera: Carmen
Composer: Georges Bizet
Libretto: Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halévy
First Performed: 1875


Translation of the text:

The flower that you threw to me

Remained with me while I was in prison.

Withered and dried, the flower

Always maintained its sweet scent.

And for hours,

My eyes, with eyelids closed,

I became intoxicated by this smell

And in the night I saw you!

I began to curse you,

I detested you, to saying to myself:

Why is it necessary for fate

To put herself there in my path?

Then I accused myself of blasphemy

And I felt only within myself

I felt but one desire

A single desire, a single hope

To see you again, oh Carmen,

To see you again!

For you had only to appear

Only to throw your glance at me

In order to take a hold of all my being

Oh my Carmen!

And I was owned by you.

Carmen, I love you

July 3, 2011 (Chanson d'Olympia - Les Contes d'Hoffmann)

Aria: Chanson d'Olympia (Doll Aria)
Language: French
Performer: Rachele Gllmore
Opera: Les Contes d'Hoffmann [English: The Tales Of Hoffman]
Composer: Jacques Offenbach
Libretto: Jules Barbier
First Performed: 1851


Translation of the text:



The birds in the arbor,
The sky's daytime star,
Everything speaks to a young girl of love!
Ah! This is the gentile song,
The song of Olympia! Ah!


Everything that sings and resonates
And sighs, in turn,
Moves his heart, which shudders of love!
Ah! This is the lovely song,
The song of Olympia! Ah!

July 2, 2011 (Che Farò Senza Euridice - Orfeo Ed Euridice)

Aria: Che Farò Senza Euridice
Language: Italian
Performer: Razek-François Bitar
Opera: Orfeo Ed Euridice [English: Orfeo & Euridiche]
Composer: Christoph Gluck
Libretto: Ranieri de' Calzabigi
First Performed: 1762


Translation of the text:


Live without my dear Euridice?
Can I live without my love?
In my woe, where can I go?
Wither wonder with no love?
Wither wonder with no love?
Euridice!Euridice!

O heaven now tell me,
Oh tell me, I am forever thy true lover,
I am forever thy true lover, true lover!
Live without my dear Euridice!
Could I live without my love?
In my woe, where can I go?
Wither wander with no love,
Wither wander with no love
Euridice, Euridice!

Through darkness groping, no help given,
Nothing hoping from earth or heaven, from earth or heaven!
Live without my dear Euridice?
Wither wander with no love?
In my woe where can I go?
Wither wander with no love?
Where can I go in my woe?
Wither wander with no love,
without my love, without my love

July 1, 2001 (Sempre Libera - La Traviata)

Aria: Sempre Libera
Language: Italian
Performer: Natalie Dessay
Opera: La Traviata [English: The Fallen Woman]
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave
First Performed: 1853


Translation of the text:


Unavailable at the moment

June 30, 2011 (Vesti La Giubba - I Pagliacci)

For Akeel & Friends...

Aria: Vesti La Giubba

Language: Italian

Performer: Luciano Pavarotti

Opera: I Pagliacci

Composer: Ruggero Leoncavallo

Libretto: Catulle Mendès

First Performed: 1892

Translation of the text:

Act! While in delirium,
I no longer know what I say,
or what I do!
And yet it's necessary... make an effort!
Bah! Are you not a man?
You are a clown!

Put on your costume,
powder your face.
The people pay to be here, and they want to laugh.
And if harlequin shall steal your Columbina,
laugh, clown, so the crowd will cheer!
Turn your distress and tears into jest,
your pain and sobbing into a funny face - Ah!

Laugh, clown,
at your broken love!
Laugh at the grief that poisons your heart!

June 29, 2011 (Embroidery In Childhood - Peter Grimes)

Aria: Embroidery In Childhood
Language: English
Performer: Patricia Racette
Opera: Peter Grimes
Composer: Benjamin Britten
Libretto: Montagu Slater
First Performed: 1945


Translation of text:


Not needed. Piece in English.

June 28, 2011 (Mein Herr Marquis - Die Fledermaus)

Aria: Mein Herr Marquis
Language: German
Performer: Isabel Rey
Opera: Die Fledermaus [English: The Bat]
Composer: Johann Strauß II
Libretto: Karl Haffner & Richard Genée
First Performed: 1874


Translation of the text:


My dear Marquis
Why must you be
So loathe to use your eyes
When you stop and stare
Take a lot more care
And closely scrutinise

My fingers, my ankles, my feet
Ha ha ha ha ha
How shapely and trim and petite
Ha ha ha ha ha
Both accent and inflection show polish to perfection
Such graces are the traces of our old elite
Such graces are the traces of our old elite

I marvel how a man like you
Could fail to see my blood was blue
What a gorgeous, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha

What a startling, ha ha ha
Revelation, ha ha ha ha ha
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh
Marquis, oh, what a wag you are

Profiles they say
Give the game away
When formed with classic grace
If the head on view
Isn't much to you
Then look at me side-face

What evidence more can there be, ha ha ha ha ha
I sing at soirees without fee, ha ha ha ha ha ha
Bestowing my attention
With lofty condescension
Such graces are the traces of a pedigree
Such graces are the traces of a pedigree

All's one to you, though I'm afraid
Because you love a parlour maid
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Revelation, ha ha ha ha ha

June 27, 2011 (This Is Prophetic! - Nixon In China)

Aria: The Is Prophetic!

Language: English

Performer: Carolann Page

Opera: Nixon In China

Composer: John Adams

Libretto: Alice Goodman

First Performed: 1987

Translation of the text:

Not needed. Piece in English.

June 26, 2011 (Je Veux Vivre - Roméo Et Juliette)

Aria: Je Veux Vivre
Language: French
Performer: Diana Damrau
Opera: Roméo Et Juliette [English: Romeo & Juliette]
Composer: Charles Gounod
Libretto: Jules Barbier & Michel Carré
First Performed: 1867

Translation of the text:

I want to live 

In this dream which intoxicates me 

This day still, 

Sweet flame 

I keep you in my soul

Like a treasure!

I want to live, etc. 

This intoxication of youth 

Lasts, alas, only for one day! 

Then comes the hour 

When one weeps. 

Far from the morose winter 

Let me, let me slumber 

And inhale the rose, 

Before plucking its petals. 

Ah! - Ah! - Ah! 

Sweet flame! 

Stay in my soul 

Like a sweet treasure 

For a long time still. 

Ah! - Like a treasure 

For a long time still.

June 25, 2011 (Habanera - Carmen)

Aria: Habanera
Language: French
Performer: Anna Caterina
Opera: Carmen
Composer: Georges Bizet
Libretto: Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halévy
First Performed: 1875


Translation of the text:


Video subtitled in English

June 24, 2011 (Der Hölle Rache - Die Zauberflöte)

Aria: Der Hölle Rache
Language: German
Performer: Diana Damrau
Opera: Die Zauberflöte [English: The Magic Flute]
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto: Emanuel Schikaneder
First Performed: 1791


Translation of the text:


Hell's vengeance boils in my heart;
Death and despair blaze around me!
If Sarastro does not feel the pain of death because of you,
Then you will be my daughter nevermore.

Disowned be forever,
Forsaken be forever,
Shattered be forever
All the bonds of nature
If Sarastro does not turn pale [in death] because of you!
Hear, gods of vengeance, hear the mother's oath!

June 23, 2011 (Largo Al Factotum - Il Barbiera Di Sevigila)

Aria: Largo Al Factotum
Language: Italian
Performer: Pietro Spagnoli
Opera: Il Barbiera Di Sevigila [English: The Barber Of Seville]
Composer: Gioachino Rossini
Libretto: Cesare Sterbini
First Performed: 1816

Translation of the text:


Make way for the factotum of the city,
Hurrying to his shop since dawn is already here.
Ah, what a fine life, what fine pleasure
For a barber of quality!


Ah, bravo Figaro!
Bravo, bravissimo!
A most fortunate man indeed!


Ready to do everything
Night and day,
Always on the move.
A cushier fate for a barber,
A more noble life, is not to be had.


Razors and combs,
Lancets and scissors,
At my command
Everything's there.
Here are the tools
Of my trade
With the ladies...with the gentlemen...


Everyone asks for me, everyone wants me,
Ladies, young lads, old men, young girls:
Here is the wig...the beard is ready...
Here are the leeches...
The note is ready...
Here is the wig, the beard is ready,
The note is ready, hey!


Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!, etc.
Ah, what frenzy!
Ah, what a crowd!
One at a time, please!
Hey, Figaro! I'm here.
Figaro here, Figaro there,
Figaro up, Figaro down,


Swifter and swifter, I'm like a thunderbolt:
I'm the factotum of the city.
Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo,
You'll never lack for luck!

June 22, 2011 (La Donna È Mobile - Rigoletto)

Aria: La Donna È Mobile
Language: Italian
Performer: Luciano Pavarotti
Opera: Rigoletto
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi 
Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave
First Performed: 1851


Translation of the text:

This woman is flighty
Like a feather in the wind,
She changes in voice — and in thought.
Always sweet,
Pretty face,
In tears or in laughter, — she is a liar.

Refrain

The woman is flighty
Like a feather in the wind,
She changes in voice and in thought,
And in thought!
And in thought!

Always miserable
Is he who trusts her,
He who confides in her — his unwary heart!
Yet one never feels
Fully happy
Who on that bosom — does not drink love!

Refrain

Woman is flighty
Like a feather in the wind,
She changed her words,
And her thoughts!
And her thoughts!